Hay-rake.



Patented Apr. 3, I900. H. GREEN.

HAY RAKE.

(Application filed Dec. 19, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet (N0 Model.)

- I IIII I IIIIIIIIIIIIII III I I I I IIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII No.646,493 Patented Apr. 3, I900.

- u. GREEN.

HAY BAKE.

(Application filed Doc. 19, 1898.)

3 Shoets- SheeI 2 (No Model.)

N U T R'" cox;

no. 646,493. Patented Apr. 3, moo.

H'. GREEN.

HAY BAKE.

A (A lication mm 9.. 19 1898.)

(No Model.)

3 Shee'ls-Sheat 3 I r-lllllllllllfllm T ,4 WM MAW L-fl Thurw NITEDSTATES FFICE.

PATENT HENRY GREEN, OF PEKIN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ACME HARVESTERCOMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

HAY-RAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 646,493, dated April.3, 1900. Application filed December 19, 1898. Serial No. 699,639. (Nomodel.)

T at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY GREEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pekin,

'manner as the single one.

in the county of Tazewell and State of Illinois, have invented certainnew and useful Improvementsin Hay-Rakes; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear,-

and exact description of the invention,'which will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in end-dump hay-rakes.

The object of my invention is to construct a hay-rake of this class freefrom all objections common to the rakes of this class and provide a rakecapable of doing the hardest and heaviest work possible without theleast chance of the disarrangement of any of its parts.

Heretofore all end-dump rakes have been constructed with a trippingarrangement for dumping the hay consisting of a bar or rod extendingfrom one end of the rake to the other and actuated by some means orother in the hands of the operator, the dumping action, as well as thefuture utility of the rake, being dependent on the torsional or twistingstrength of such rods. Two shorter bars have also been used in place ofthe single one and have been manipulated in much the same Theseconstructions are so commonly known that very little need be said ofthem other than to set forth their disadvantages in order that. thedevice which I employ may be appreciated. These bars or rods aresubjected to an immense torsional strain, and more especially when onlyone end of the rake has the entire load of hay to carry. lVhen the barof the full length is employed, it is held at its middle, While the endsengage the ratchet-teeth upon the carrying-wheels. It is obvious thatwhen the pawls on the extremities of the rods which engage the ratchetsreceive the Weight of the rake-head and the weight of the hay thestrength of the rod is taxed to its utmost.

TWhen the load has been lifted and delivered,

after their work the action of delivery has been'retarded becauseoftheinevitable twist ing described. The substitution of the two shorterrods for the single one was done with the hope of overcoming theseobjections; but the result was even worse than before, for

the reason that the shorter rods are not as likely to recover from thetorsional twist as easily as a longer one no matter how exceL '65 lentthe material may be, and a permanent twist is the result. To set asideall depend ence upon rods employed in this manner is the desire and aimof my invention. As it is impossible to produce a rod that will nottwist when so used, at least without being cumbersome, other means mustbe employed.

My ideas may be readily understood from the drawings herewith, inWhich-'- Figure 1 a plan view ofa hay-rake, showing my improvement. Fig.1 is a detail of the manner of securing the shaft to the rakehead. Fig.2 is a plan view of means for operating the pawls engaging the ratchetson the carryingwheels. view of the same. Fig. 4t is a detail of aportion thereof. Fig. 5 is a sectional end elevation of the rake. Fig. 6is a view of part of the same portion shown in tipped position.

Fig.7 is a perspective view of a pawl and its operating mechanism. Fig.8 is a side view thereof, showing the ratchet-wheel. Fig. 9 is the samein its tipped position. Fig. 10 is a top view of a modified form of theoperating means. thereof.

In the figures, A is the rake-frame, B the carrying-wheels, and O O areratchet-Wheels secured to the latter. Beneath the rake-head E, at eachend, is secured a stub-shaft (2, projecting centrally through the shieldD, affixed to the said rake-head. This construction is old, however, andI lay no claim to it except in combination with my improvements. As

shown in Figs. 1 and 7, a pawl F is pivoted to the shield D by lugs toa, while behind these are lugs b b, pivotally supporting a hanger or In.the 55 Fig. 3 is a perspective 80 Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation 0link G. The end of a rod II is pivoted to the free end of the link, boththe said link and rod being at right angles to the pawl. It will be seenthat the pawl projects rearwardly between the lugs b b, so as to presentits rear end to the said rod H. The heaviest end of the pawl liesforward of its pivotal point and when such-pawl is left free to movewill fall by its own weight into engagement with the ratchet-wheel. Itwill be noted that I show two of the rods H and at the middle of therake provide a device for operating them. Such device is designed tomove both rods simultaneously in the direction of theirlengths. Thisconsists of a table I, mounted on a bracket J, secured to the rake-head.At the middle of the table so supported is a rack-bar K, Fig. 2, slidingin guides L and L. Said bar lies parallel with the rake-teeth. Upon thetable, at each side of the rack-bar, is a pinion M, meshing with theteeth on the said bar K and rotated by it. To each pinion is attachedthe free end of one of the rods H in such manner that when the said rodsare thrown to their outer limits, or away from each other,

by the movement of the rack-bar the ends attached to the hangers orlinks are raised to permit the pawls to descend of their own will. Therack-bar is intended to have movement longitudinally, whereby thepinions are made to swing in opposite directions on their pivots, asdescribed, to carry the rods H to the positions indicated by brokenlines in Figs. 1 and 2. The rack-bar is madein two sectionsan upper anda lower, d and f, respectively and between them is left a slot g for thestationary guide or cross-head L, carrying a lug h. The sections aregrooved and permit a coil-spring to lie between them, one end thereofbeing held by the said lug h and the other by a lug j in the bar. Thetendency of the spring is to open and increase in length,thereby keepingthe rack in the po sition shown in Fig. 2. In this position the rods Hare drawn toward each other, as shown by unbroken lines, and keep thepawls free of the ratchets. A suitable casing 1 covers the table, andbolts 1 which hold the parts together, also serve as pivots for thepinions. A foot-lever N is mounted on the frame A ahead of the ridersseat, and a chain attached thereto is connected to the rack-bar, asshown. A locking foot-lever O is likewise pivoted on the frame andconnectsloosely with a link P on the rake-head, while a. stop Q iserected just above the joint between the lever and link to limit theupward movement of those parts. A hand-lever O is placed upon the samepivotal point with the foot-lever and is used in assisting thedumpingoperation. While this latter lever mechanism is not new in thisapplication, I describe it here to show its connection with theoperation of the rake, although its use is not absolutely necessary.

The rake-frame is hung from the rake-head by brackets-Rpivoted to theshafts e, as shown 1]} ig 5 and 6, and so hung that the said frameretains a fixed position regardless of the movements of the rake-head.This is not a vital point, but the machine operates smoothly when soconstructed. Upon the reach it is a knock-off stop S, which takes thestroke or impact of the rack-bar as that member rises with therake-head.

A modified form of the operating mechanism is shown in Figs. 10 and 11,in which the numeral 1 indicates a circular platform or table secured tothe rake-head E. In the bottom is an annular groove 2, within which movetwo depending lugs 3 on a swinging plate 4. The rods H are provided withholes, through which the said lugs pass, it being understood that saidrods lie upon the table and slide thereon, so that no other support isnecessary. An arm 5 forms part of the plate 4 and swings that memberupon its central support by means of the foot-lever and its chain.Acasing 6 rests upon the plate or table 1 and is slotted in its side topermit the said rods H and rod 5 free movement. A spring surrounds thedrum of the plate and engages the arm or rod 5, the other end being heldin the casing, as shown in Fig. 11. The office of the spring is toreturn the plate and arm to their normal positions after being swung bythe foot-lever.

The various operations are as follows: The normal positions when therake is gathering hay are as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 8-that is,

,the rods H are drawn toward each other in order to depress the rearends of the pawls and raise their forward ends from the ratchets. Whilein this position the operators foot is kept upon the lever 0. By thismeans the pivotal connection between the lever and link P is kept upagainst the stop Q. It will be seen that the thrust of the rake with itsweight of hay will be in the direction of a line drawn through theseveral pivotal points of the lever arrangement, Fig. 5. When the rakehas gathered a sufficient quantity of hay, the foot is removed from thelever O and the hand-lever 0' is moved rearwardly, at the same timeapplying pressure of the foot to the lever N. v

This latter action draws the rack-bar forward, swings the pinions ontheir pivots in adirection to move the rods H away from each other, andraises their outer ends by means of the outward thrust upon the links.The pawls are thus permitted to fall by gravity into engagement with theratchet-wheels while-the rake is in motion, and by reason of their beingpivoted to the shell D the rake-head. attached thereto is raised to thedumping position shown in Fig. (5. When fully raised, the point of therack-bar strikes the knock-off or anvil S and by that action pushes thesaid bar backward or rather upward, revolving the pinions to draw therods I'I toward each other, and consequently down upon thepawls,

removing the latter from the ratchetrwheels.

The spring 2' completes the movementby re.-

turning the parts to theiriirst positions, it being understood that thespring is not intended to be sufficiently powerful to accomplish thedisengagement of the pawls and ratchets, but merely to complete themovement set up by the contact of the rack-bar with said knock-off stop.When the pawls leave the ratchets, the rake falls, and after reachingits downward limit the foot is again replaced upon the lever 0, thuslocking the rake while it proceeds to gather more hay.

I wish it to be understood that it is not necessary to use the lockingarrangement, but it is simply an aid to the operator. Therefore thedumping device which I have shown and described may be used on any formof rake made. I do not limit myself to any particular form of thepawl-operating mechanism nor the apparatus for operating the rods H fromthe center of the rake for lifting the pawls. I merely wish to providemeans of one form or another for operating the pawls without beingdependent upon the strength of a bar under torsional stress, as beforestated. The spring i in the bar K may be dispensed with, if desired, forthe reason that ,the knock-off stop will complete the entire operationof disengaging the parts and return-j ing them to their places. The rodsH and pawls may be connected so that the pawls need not depend upongravity for their operation, but may be moved in a positive manner bothwhen the rods are separated or brought toward each other. In my devicethe pawls are operated by a straight pull or push, as the occasiondemands, and a very light rod or bar is sufficient to accomplish thedesired end. The central operating device may. be replaced by a simplehand operating mechanism and with good results.

The machine may be constructed so that a reversed action of the centralportion Will impart to the pawls their required movements. The stop Sneed not necessarily be employed, as the rake-frame will answer everypurpose.

I am not aware of the existence of any device that will accomplish thepurposes I seek, nor, indeed, have I discovered an attempt to provideanything to attain such purpose. As alreadystated, I do not wish toconfine myself to the use of a pawl or the endwise movement of a rod, asother means can be employed.

I claim 1. In a hay-rake the usual carrying-wheels therefor,ratchet-wheels secured to such carryingwheels, a pawl pivoted above eachratchet, a rod parallel to the pivot of the pawl and means whereby saidrod is made to bear down upon the pawl when moved in the direction ofits length substantially as and for the purposes set forth anddescribed.

2. In a hay-rake of the character described, carrying-wheels therefor, aratchet-wheel secured to each wheel, a pivotal pawl adapted to engagethe ratchet, a rod or bar above the pawl arranged to descend upon thesame, and a link, carryingsaid rod in its swinginginovementssubstantially as set forth.

3. In a hay-rake of the character described,

the rake-frame,-the rake-head,shields secured on the said rake-head,aratchet-wheel within each shield, a pawl pivotally attached to eachshield for engaging the ratchet-wheel, a pivotal hanger at right anglesto the pawl, a bar or rod also at right angles 'to the pawl, pivoted atone end to the hanger, and passing between said hanger and pawl,-andmeans for moving the rod in the direction of its length to operate thepawl substantially as described.

4. In. a hay-rake of the character described, a ratchet -wheel securedto the carryingwheel, a pivotal pawl engaging the ratchetwheel, a hangerpivotally supported above and at right angles to the pawl behind itspoint of support, a rod also at right angles to.

the pawl pivotally hung at one end from said hanger and means at itsopposite end for moving it in the direction of its length for l thepurposes set forth and described.

5. In a hay-rake of the character described, the rake-frame, therake-head having pivotal connection therewith, a shaft at each end ofthe rake-head, a carrying-wheel mountedon each shaft, a ratchet-wheelsecured to each wheel, shields, or supports secured to the therake-head, a carrying-wheel mounted on each shaft, a ratchet-wheelsecured to each wheel, shields, or supports secured to the rake-head,pawls pivoted on the shields for engaging the ratchets, pivoted hangerson the shields at right angles to the pawls, rods also at right anglesto the pawls attached to the, hangers and passing between said hangersand pawls, means for imparting movement to said rods whereby the endsthereof connected to the said hangers are raised or depressed,consisting of a platform or' support secured to the rake-head, arack-bar thereon, a pinion at each side of such bar each having the freeend of one of the rods, or bars attached thereto and means for givingthe rack-bar longitudinal movement for the purposes set forth.

-7. In a hay-rake of the character described, the rake-frame, therake-head having pivotal connection therewith, a shaft ateach end of therake-head, a carrying-wheel mounted on each shaft, a ratchet-wheelsecured to each wheel,, shields or supports secured to the rake-head,pawls pivoted on the shields for engaging the ratchets, pivoted hangerson the shields at right angles to the pawls, rods attached to thehangers at right angles to the pawls and passing between said hangersand cured to each, pawls adapted to engage the ratchets by gravity andmove therewith only during the delivery of hay, rods for raising thepawls from the ratchets, such rods having no connection therewith butarranged for vertical descent upon the rear-extension of the pawls,links in the vicinity of the .pawls for carrying the rods in theirvertical movements and means for imparting movement to the rods in thedirection of theirlength whereby they are lowered upon the pawls toraise the latter or raised to permit the pawls to descend upon theratchets as set forth.

9. In a hay-rake having the usual carryingwheels and ratchet-s, therake-head having suitable shafts for each wheel, shields secured to thehead in the region of the shafts, pawls pivoted 0n the shields at rightangles to the rake-head, for engaging the ratchets, pivotal hangersbehind the, pivotal supports of the pawls, and rods also behind suchpivotal supports and pivoted to the hangers; such rods adapted todescend upon the pawls by an endwise movement thereof substantially asand for the purposes described.

10. For a hay-rake, the rake-frame A, the

Manes rake-head E pivoted thereto, a stub-shaft a secured at each endthereof, carrying-wheels B on the shafts, a ratchet-wheel O on eachwheel B, shields D secured to the rake-head, pawls F pivoted near theirmiddle to such shields, hangers G pivotally hung behind and above thepivots of the pawls, rods H loosely connected at one end to the hangers,a support I secured to the rake-frame, pinions M pivoted thereon andhaving the rods II attached thereto, a rack-bar K sliding between suchpinions for moving them, a chain and lever for imparting longitudinalmovement to such rack-bar and a stop S on the frame for engaging therack-bar substantially as herein described and shown and for thepurposes set forth.

11. In the hay-rake of the character described, employing pawls andratchet-wheels for elevating the rake-teeth and delivering hay, rodslocated at right angles to the pawls and adapted to shift in thedirection of their lengths, links adapted to support one end of each rodabove the rearward extension of its respective pawl said rods adapted toswing on said links whereby said shifting movement will impart avertical movement to the ends of the rods sohung to engage the pawls,for raising them from the ratchet-wheels, and also to permit them tofall by gravity into engagement with such ratchet substantially as setforth. l

In testimony whereof I affix my signature H. O. STovE, W. H. BINNIAN.

